SB - LISTENING Inter AUG-SEP

The Asian International School Intermediate
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
_____________
WEEK 1: SUPERSTITIONS
PART I. VOCABULARY
- superstition /ˌsuːpərˈstɪʃn/ (n): an idea based on fear, not science or logic
- fireproof /'faɪərpruːf/ (adj): able to resist great heat without burning or being badly damaged
- scavenger /ˈskævɪndʒər/ (n): an animal that eats dead things
- captive ravens: ravens kept on the ship
- tame ravens: ravens that are not wild
- wards off evil: keep away evil
- a phenomenon of: something that happens with
- mistaken /mɪˈsteɪkən/ (v): mixed up, confused
- entomologist /ˌentəˈmɑːlədʒɪst/ (n): a scientist who studies insects
- misstep /ˌmɪsˈstep/ (n): a mistake; a wrong action
- doom /duːm/ (n): death or destruction; any terrible event that you cannot avoid
Listening 2
Listen to this BBC radio programme about English superstitions and answer questions 1-7 below.
(Source: http://mythatsenglish.blogspot.com/2015/03/english-superstitions.html)
Example:
0 What should you touch if you want good luck? Wood
1. What doesn’t Alice like doing because it brings bad luck?
____________________________________________________________________________________
2. What example does Alice give of a lucky charm?
____________________________________________________________________________________
3. What do the seagulls following boats represent in Scotland?
____________________________________________________________________________________
4. What does each of the calls of the cuckoo represent?
____________________________________________________________________________________
5. What do they have in Switzerland, Germany and Austria?
____________________________________________________________________________________
6. What advice does Alice give for when you hear a cuckoo?
____________________________________________________________________________________
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7. How does Alice define the superstitions known as old wives’ tales?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Listening 3: Watch a video about Friday the thirteenth superstitions, and complete the gaps in
sentences 1-5 below. Use no more than THREE WORDS.
(Source: https://www.esolcourses.com/content/topics/folklore/superstitions/friday-the-thirteenth.html)
1. Millions of people around the world ___________________ Friday the thirteenth.
2. Friday the thirteenth is considered a very ___________________ day in some cultures.
3. People who believe in superstitions are said to be ___________________.
4. Superstitious people will often ___________________ anything to do with the number 13.
5. Some people will even take the day off work and stay at home, to avoid ___________________.
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
_____________
WEEK 2: CULTURES
PART I. VOCABULARY
- storey /ˈstɔːri/ (n): a level of a building; a floor
- tenement /ˈtenəmənt/ (n): a large building divided into flats, especially in a poor area of a city
- alley /ˈæli/ (n): a narrow passage behind or between buildings
- illegal /ɪˈliːɡl/ (adj): not allowed by the law
- practicalities /ˌpræktɪˈkæləti/ (n): the quality of being suitable, or likely to be successful
- tolerate /ˈtɒləreɪt/ (v): to allow somebody to do something that you do not agree with or like
- unsophisticated /ˌʌnsəˈfɪstɪkeɪtɪd/ (adj): simple and basic; not complicated
- “tried and trusted”: a strategy that has consistently worked in the past
PART II. PRACTICE
Listening 1: (Source: https://www.esolcourses.com/content/lifeintheuk/london/the-great-fire-of-london/
intermediate-listening-lesson.html)
Listen to the audio about the Great Fire of London and the monument built to commemorate it.
Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) for questions 1 -7.
1. When did the Great Fire of London start?
A. On September 6, 1666 B. On September 2, 1666 C. On September 9, 1666
2. Where did the Great Fire of London begin?
A. In Baker Street B. In Pudding Lane C. In Pie Place
3. Why did the mayor stop the firefighters from demolishing surrounding buildings?
A. Because it was too dangerous.
B. Because they didn’t have planning permission.
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C. Because the landlords hadn’t consented to them doing so.

4. How long did the fire burn for?
A. Two days B. Three days C. Four days
5. Which of these statements is not true?
A. London was the biggest city in England at the time of the fire.
B. The fire destroyed eighty thousand homes.
C. The fire started in a bakery.
6. Who designed the Great Fire of London Monument?
A. Sir Christopher Raven B. Sir Christopher Robin C. Sir Christopher Wren
7. Which of these statements is true?
A. The fire melted the chains on the city gates.
B. Records show that hundreds of people perished in the fire.
C. The monument is built on the spot where the fire began.
Listening 2: Listen to the presentation about unusual British festivals and do the exercises below.
(Source: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/upper-intermediate-b2-listening/
unusual-british-festivals)
Task 1: Do this exercise while you listen. Circle True or False for these sentences.
1. Many of these festivals are actually races or competitions. True False
2. The Burning of the Clavie brings good luck for the new year. True False
3. On Shrove Tuesday in Scarborough people dance with ropes. True False
4. Cheese rolling involves running away from a big, round cheese. True False
5. Snail racing started in the UK. True False
6. The competition to pull the ugliest face is an old tradition. True False
7. The Burning of the Clocks festival marks the summer solstice. True False
8. The Burning of the Clocks festival ends with people throwing water. True False
Task 2. Circle the best phrase to complete these sentences.
1. The Clavie is __________.
A. a whisky container
B. a wooden cross
C. a bonfire made of things people don’t need
2. In the Up Helly Aa festival, they burn __________.
A. a wooden man B. a Viking boat C. a line in the grass
3. During a pancake race, you have to __________.
A. eat as many pancakes as possible
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B. run as fast as possible while tossing a pancake in a pan

C. run and jump over the ropes without dropping the pancake.
4. Nowadays, the people who win the cheese rolling competition are usually __________.
A. top athletes
B. people from the village
C. visitors from all over the world
5. The fastest snail in the Snail Racing is __________.
A. cooked with garlic and butter
B. rescued from the barbecue
C. given a prize of extra lettuce
6. Black pudding throwing is similar to __________.
A. pancake tossing
B. Olympic sports like javelin and shotput
C. bowling
7. To win the best gurner competition, one man __________.
A. had all his teeth removed B. grew a really long beard C. had a lot of facial piercings
8. The Burning of the Clocks festival is __________.
A. 2 years old B. 20 years old C. 200 years old
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
_____________
WEEK 3: CULTURES (CONT.)
PART I. VOCABULARY
- livestock /ˈlaɪvstɒk/ (n): the animals kept on a farm, for example cows or sheep
- telemetry /təˈlemətri/ (n): the process of using special equipment to send, receive and measure
scientific data over long distances
- herder /ˈhɜːrdər/ (n): a person whose job is to take care of a group of animals such as sheep or cows in
the countryside
- refuge /ˈrefjuːdʒ/ (n): shelter or protection from danger, trouble, etc.
- ardent /ˈɑːdnt/ (adj): very enthusiastic and showing strong feelings about something/somebody
- recognition /ˌrekəɡˈnɪʃn/ (n): public praise and reward for somebody’s work or actions
- trophy /ˈtrəʊfi/ (n): an object that you keep to show that you were successful in something, especially
hunting or war
- patrol /pəˈtrəʊl/ (v): to go around an area or a building at regular times to check that it is safe and that
there is no trouble
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PART III. PRACTICE

Listen to the speaker talking about the Maasai and the lions and do the exercises to practice and
improve your listening skills.
(Source: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/upper-intermediate-b2-listening/
maasai-lions)
Task 1. Circle the best answer to these questions.
1. How did the Maasai people feel about lions in the past?
A. They strongly disliked B. They were not sure how C. They loved them.
them. they felt.
2. What is the aim of the Lion Guardians scheme?
A. To move the lions to a different, safer area.
B. To protect the lions and allow experts to do research.
C. To train local people to protect the lions.
3. Why do the Lion Guardians tell local farmers where lions are?
A. So they can kill the lions.
B. So they can take their cows to a different area.
C. So they can protect their families.
4. How do other local people feel about the Lion Guardians?
A. They respect them.
B. They don’t understand them.
C. They are annoyed by them.
5. Why did Olubi Lairumbe change his mind about killing lions?
A. He saw how dangerous hunting lions could be.
B. He killed a pregnant lion and felt very bad about it.
C. He learnt more about lions and realized he was wrong.
6. How does Mingati Makarot know where the lions are?
A. He uses special tracking equipment.
B. He uses his knowledge of the area and hunting skills.
C. He uses information provided by his team.
7. How do Maasai warriors get a lion name, traditionally?
A. By killing a lion. B. By having the C. By doing something brave.
characteristics of a lion.
8. How has the naming tradition changed?
A. Young men have to kill more lions to a get a name.
B. Young men can use their father’s name.
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C. Young men are given special names without killing lions.

9. What do the Lion Guardians do to help people see lions as part of the community?
A. Give people photos of the lions.
B. Tell people stories about the lions.
C. Give the lions Maasai names.
10. What is the key factor in the scheme's success?
A. The Maasai have changed their culture but kept their identity.
B. The Maasai can influence people from neighbouring areas.
C. The Maasai have always wanted to protect lions.
Task 2. Check your understanding: gap filling
Do this exercise while you listen. Write a word or words to fill the gaps.
1. The Maasai people and the lions were enemies because the lions wanted to kill the tribe’s
_______________.
2. Now, there is a new scheme to _______________ lions.
3. The aim is for local people to manage and protect lions, without any involvement from
_______________.
4. The Lion Guardians learn a range of skills including how to manage _______________ between
humans and lions.
5. In the past, lost livestock was often _______________ by carnivores.
6. If someone is going to carry out a lion _______________, the Lion Guardians try to persuade them not
to.
7. Olubi Lairumbe has killed _______________ lions in his lifetime.
8. Olubi appeared on the Africa documentary _______________.
9. Mingati’s lion name means one who is _______________ and doesn’t lag behind.
10. Traditionally, after killing a lion, the warrior brings the lion’s mane and _______________ back
11. After the naming tradition changed, boys who wanted to prove their bravery were given
_______________ tasks.
12. Since the program began in 2007, no lions have been killed in the area, compared to
_______________ in the neighboring area.
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
_____________
WEEK 4: THE EXPERIMENT
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PART I. VOCABULARY
- pitch /pɪtʃ/ (n): black sticky substance made from oil or coal, used on roofs or the wooden boards of a
ship to stop water from coming through
- viscous /ˈvɪskəs/ (adj): (of a liquid) thick and sticky; not flowing freely
- fluid /ˈfluːɪd/ (n): a liquid; a substance that can flow
- funnel /ˈfʌnl/ (n): a device that is wide at the top and narrow at the bottom, used for pouring liquids or
powders into a small opening
- tragic /ˈtrædʒɪk/ (adj): making you feel very sad, usually because somebody has died or suffered a lot
- fateful /ˈfeɪtfl/ (adj): having an important, often very bad, effect on future events
PART III. PRACTICE
Listen to the lecture about a science experiment to practice and improve your listening skills.
(Source: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/upper-intermediate-b2/a-lecture-about-
an-experiment)
Task 1: Listen to the lecture then circle the best answer.
1. The pitch drop experiment is ____________
A. the oldest experiment in history.
B. the oldest experiment that is still running today.
C. the longest experiment in 1927.
2. The creator of the experiment wanted to ____________
A. have an experiment that lasted a long time.
B. show the dangers of everyday materials.
C. show that common substances have extraordinary properties.
3. Pitch is a substance ____________
A. that looks solid but is actually liquid.
B. that looks liquid but is actually solid.
C. that doesn’t appear to be liquid or solid.
4. The first time a drop of pitch fell was ____________
A. eight years after the experiment began.
B. three years after the experiment began.
C. forty years after the experiment began.
5. Which of the following sentences is not true about Professor John Mainstone?
A. He never saw the pitch drop.
B. He was responsible for the experiment for over fifty years.
C. He took over the experiment in 1927.
6. In the year 2000, ____________
A. an electricity failure meant the pitch drop was not filmed.
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B. scientists set up a live stream of the experiment.

C. the ninth drop of pitch fell.
Task 2: Complete the sentences with NO MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
1. When pitch is at room temperature, you can break it _________________________.
2. Professor Parnell put pitch into a glass funnel, let it cool, then turned it ________________________
and cut off the top.
3. In total, only _________________________ have fallen from the funnel.
4. The next pitch drop is expected to fall in _________________________.
5. In 1988, the scientist responsible for the experiment missed seeing the pitch drop by
_________________________.
6. The speaker notes it’s interesting how news about a slow experiment can spread
_________________________.
Discussion: Do you know of any other famous experiments? What are they?
SEPTEMBER
UNIT 2: FAMILY MATTERS
______________
WEEK 5: FAMILY
PART I. VOCABULARY
- freckle /ˈfrekl/ (n): a small, pale brown spot on a person’s skin, especially on their face, that often
becomes darker after time spent in the sun
- chromosome /ˈkrəʊməsəʊm/ (n): one of the very small structures like thin strings in the nuclei (=
central parts) of animal and plant cells.
- genome /ˈdʒiːnəʊm/ (n): the complete set of genes in a cell or living thing
- embryo /ˈembriəʊ/ (n): a young animal or plant in the very early stages of development before birth
- trace /treɪs/ (v): to follow a path
- hardship /ˈhɑːdʃɪp/ (n): pain and suffering
- exclusion /ɪkˈskluːʒn/ (n): something that prevents us from doing something or belonging to group
- emerge /ɪˈmɜːdʒ/ (v): to become known as something
- integrity /ɪnˈteɡrəti/ (adj): the quality of being fair and honest
- permeate /ˈpɜːmieɪt/ (v): to spread through
PART II. PRACTICE
Listening 1: Listen to the audio about “Genes: All in the Family”, then fill in each blank with NO
MORE THAN THREE WORDS.
(Source: EDGE A, Unit 2 - Fluency model - Phrasing, CD 8 Track 4)
Your genes come from your parents, theirs come from their parents, and so on – all the way back to the
first living thing that ever existed. Genes are (1) ___________________ through families, and that’s why
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you probably look a bit like your parents. (2) ___________________, like long eyelashes, red hair,
freckles, or blue eyes, run in families because they are controlled by genes.
Half your genes come from your mother and half come from your father. They were passed on to you in
(3) ___________________ carried by sperm and egg cells. Sperm and egg cells have only (4)
___________________ chromosomes each – half the usual amount. When they meet and form an (5)
___________________, they create a new person with a full set of 46 chromosomes.
You actually have two sets of genes: one set from your mother and another from your father. These two
genomes give you a mixture of your mother’s and father’s (6) ___________________ – perhaps you
have your mother’s hair and your father’s eyes, for instance.
Every child in a family is different because the parents’ genes are (7) ___________________ and then
divided in two before making each sperm and egg cell. So each child gets a unique set of genes (except
for (8) ___________________).
Listening 2: Listen to an interview about two books to practice and improve your listening skills.
(Source: https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening/advanced-c1/an-interview-about-two-
books)
1. The presenter and Helen differ on ____________
A. how they see the characters in the book.
B. what they think about the quality of the writing.
C. how much they enjoyed reading the book.
2. Helen enjoyed Her Mother’s Daughter because ____________
A. it’s totally different from B. it’s totally different from C. it has a happy ending.
the books she writes herself. her own life.
3. What is Her Mother’s Daughter about?
A. The problems a mother has with her husband and children.
B. The way a mother’s childhood affects her when she has children herself.
C. A child who does something shocking that her parents can’t understand.
4. Why are sad books about families popular, according to Anna?
A. They make us feel as if our own families are better than the ones in books.
B. All families have similar problems, they’re just less dramatic.
C. People have small families nowadays so they like reading about other families.
5. What aspect of We Need to Talk about Kevin will people be able to relate to?
A. what it’s like to bring up B. how we feel when people C. how it feels to be a victim
teenagers we know are killed
6. What do the two books have in common?
A. They’re both about happy homes.
B. They’re both about how parents affect their children.
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C. They’re both about how parents worry about their children.
SEPTEMBER
______________
WEEK 6: FAMILY MATTERS
PART I. VOCABULARY
- dyslexia /dɪsˈleksiə/ (n): a slight disorder of the brain that causes difficulty in reading and spelling, for
example, but does not affect intelligence
- specialist /ˈspeʃəlɪst/ (n): a doctor who has specialized in a particular area of medicine
- "divorce yourself from" = separate yourself completely from something
- "part ways" = separate or break up
- pamper /ˈpæmpər/ (v): to take care of somebody very well and make them feel as comfortable as
possible
- bliss /blɪs/ (n): happiness
- petty /ˈpeti/ (adj): simplistic, unimportant
- make something of oneself (idiom): become successful in a career
- get ahead (phrasal verb): become successful in the business world
- off the top of your head (idiom): think of something immediately without preparation
PART II. PRACTICE
Listening 1: A mother speaks to a teacher about her son's progress and behavior. (Source:
https://www.esl-lounge.com/student/listening/3L5-parent-teacher.php)
Decide if the following statements about the listening are TRUE, FALSE or NOT STATED.
1. Maggie has met the teacher once before.
A. TRUE B. FALSE C. NOT STATED
2. The family left Los Angeles to find better schools for Billy.
3. The teacher believes there hasn't really been an improvement since last years.
4. Billy's mother didn't know that he had a story published by the school.
5. Billy's mother was always aware of Billy's spelling problems.
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6. Billy's sister Kathy has similar problems.

7. The school has a department dealing with students who have dyslexia.
8. The teacher had dyslexia himself when he was much younger.
Listening 2: Listen to the recording and answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/intermediate/hiking-adventures/)
1. Where did Randall grow up?
A. in Indiana B. in Utah C. in Venezuela
2. What was his undergraduate major?
A. English B. Japanese C. Spanish
3. How many children does he have?
A. four B. three C. two
4. Randall ________ when he goes on hikes with his children.
A. tells them stories B. teaches them survival C. points out the wildlife
skills
5. Randall suggests that parents ________.
A. be consistent in their B. enroll their children early C. help children solve
discipline into schools problems
Listening 3: Listen to the recording on divorce and answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/difficult/divorce-lawyers/)
1. Sharon and Phil have married for ________ months.
A. four B. two C. six
2. What is one reason why Phil wants to break up and divorce Sharon?
A. Sharon complains about Phil's bathroom habits.
B. Sharon places work over her relationship with Phil.
C. Sharon buys and wears very expensive clothing.
3. One thing that bothers Sharon is that Phil ________.
A. carries a picture of his B. brings up old memories of C. keeps in touch with his old
friend his old girlfriend girlfriend regularly
4. Tonya, Phil's sister, thinks that he is really ________.
A. weird B. proud C. pampered
5. Tonya suggests that Phil ________.
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A. get some marriage B. avoid hanging out too C. consult with a divorce
counseling much with friends lawyer
SEPTEMBER
______________
WEEK 7: RAISING CHILDREN
PART I. VOCABULARY
- credentials /krəˈdenʃlz/ (n): someone’s ability to do something based on education or experience
- rear /rɪə(r) (v): bring up, raise
- dull /dʌl/ (adj): uninteresting or boring
- contemplate /ˈkɒntəmpleɪt/ (v): consider carefully
- implement /ˈɪmplɪment/ (v): put into practice or use
- latitude /ˈlætɪtjuːd/ (n): a certain range of freedom to say and do things
- lavish /ˈlævɪʃ/ (v): give a lot, or too much, of something
- missteps /ˌmɪsˈsteps/ (n): mistakes
PART II. PRACTICE
Listening 1: Listen to the recording on parenting and child raising, then answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/academic-english/raising-children-script/)
Task 1: Choose the best answer.
1. Monroe is writing the book because _________.
A. poor parental skills can contribute to problem children
B. rearing children is more difficult than you think
C. no other book covers the challenges of raising children
2. Successful children are ones who _________.
A. are able to manage their emotions
B. achieve their educational and financial goals
C. develop positive relationships
3. _________ have the greatest influence on a child's behavior and ideas.
A. Teachers B. Parents C. Friends
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4. Family rules can _________.

A. restrict what children can do and say
B. help children communicate more openly with others
C. provide more opportunities for freedom
5. We should never give up on our children even if they _________.
A. drop out of school B. shout at us C. break the rules
Task 2: Decide if the following statements about the listening are TRUE or FALSE.
1. According to Dr. Phillip Monroe, raising children is not so complex that one guidebook can fully
prepare you. ___________
2. Telling kids not to be upset or frustrated denies the naturalness of these feelings. ___________
3. Having some skills in your emotional toolbox might provide you with the emotional, physical, and
spiritual strength later on when we really need to draw on it. ___________
4. Genetics can influence how children grow up and develop. ___________
5. Teenagers tend to follow the popular crowd, and their actions often mirror this. ___________
6. Parents don’t need to establish clear boundaries and expectations for their children. ___________
7. Having good lines of communication with children will foster positive relationships with them.
___________
Listening 2: Listen to the speakers talking about important people in their lives and do the exercises to
practice and improve your listening skills.
(Source: https://learnenglishteens.britishcouncil.org/skills/listening-skills-practice/important-people)
Task 1. Check your understanding: true or false
Circle True or False for these sentences.
1. A – Her next-door neighbour also worked with her mum. True False
2. A – Her next-door neighbour has a healthier lifestyle now. True False
3. B – He didn’t see his brother after he went to university. True False
4. B – He supports the same football team as his brother. True False
5. C – She and her friend argued about a boy. True False
6. C – She is going to go to the same university as her friend. True False
7. D – He didn’t have much in common with his friend when they were young. True False
8. E – She didn’t like the look of her boyfriend at first. True False
Discussion
Which people have been important in your life?
Who are you closest to in your family?
Who are your closest friends?
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Which other people have been important in your life?
SEPTEMBER
______________
WEEK 8: HOME
PART I. VOCABULARY
- perception /pəˈsepʃn/ (n): the way you think about or understand someone or something
- traumatic /trɔːˈmætɪk/ (adj): causing someone to become emotionally upset, angry, or hurt
- stark /stɑːk/ (adj): a very plain, unpleasant, or difficult to accept
- alleviate /əˈliːvieɪt/ (v): reduce the pain or discomfort of something
- desperate /ˈdespərət/ (adj): very sad or upset and having little hope
- plight /plaɪt/ (n): a very bad or difficult situation
- prejudice (/ˈpredʒədɪs/ n): an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, religion,
or sexual identity
- preconceived /ˌpriːkənˈsiːvd/ (adj): having an opinion or idea that you form beforehand
- anonymously /əˈnɒnɪməsli/ (adv): something done by someone who is not named or identified
PART II. PRACTICE
Listening 1: Listen to the recording on homelessness answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/academic-english/homelessness/)
1. What sometimes affects our ability to have compassion for the homeless?
A. Little contact with people everyday
B. Poor understanding of the homeless
C. Few opportunities to volunteer
2. About ____________ people are homeless in the United States.
A. 500,000 B. 400,000 C. 450,000
3. About ____________ percent of people who are homeless suffer from a mental health issue.
A. 20 B. 25 C. 15
4. Even though 25% of the homeless have jobs, they ____________.
A. don't earn enough money to pay for their expenses
B. sometimes can't find jobs that interest them
C. often have to travel a long way to their workplace
5. Randall talks about a time when he and his wife ____________.
A. volunteered at a homeless shelter
B. gave money to the poor
C. bought dinner for a man
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Listening 2: Listen to the recording on home security systems answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/difficult/home-security/)
1. Where was the homeowner when the theft occurred?
A. At the supermarket B. In the shower C. At school
2. The evidence that indicates a burglar entered the house is __________.
A. a broken window in the B. an unlocked door to the C. a mark of a person's shoe
bedroom house
3. According to the announcer, you should never leave a house key __________.
A. in places a burglar might suspect
B. inside your unlocked car
C. with a neighbor you don't know well
4. A good method to safeguard your house is __________.
A. installing security cameras in your house
B. putting in good lights around the house
C. calling the police department periodically
5. You should __________ if you encounter an intruder in your home.
A. hide under your bed until the intruder leaves
B. avoid the intruder if possible
C. call the police after you find the burglar
Listening 3: Listen to the recording home cleaning services answer the questions.
(Source: https://www.esl-lab.com/difficult/home-cleaning-service/)
1. The woman sees __________ on the floor of the man's apartment.
A. Hamburger wrappers B. Soda bottles C. Pizza boxes
2. What is causing the bad smell?
A. Rotten eggs B. Moldy cheese C. Spoiled milk
3. The home cleaning service will take care of the man's __________.
A. windows B. floors C. clothes
4. The cleaning service will cost the man __________ an hour.
A. $13 B. $23 C. $30
5. The man's sister says that he __________ because his place isn't clean.
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A. doesn't have friends

B. will have to pay more rent
C. won't get married
KEY – SCRIPT
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
WEEK 1: SUPERSTITIONS
Listening 1:
1. Various answers.
Recommended answer: They believe in superstitions to explain the unexplainable or explain the bad luck.
2.
- Ravens predict death.
- Walking under a ladder is bad luck.
- Throwing salt over your left shoulder wards off evil.
- Breaking a mirror means trouble.
- Knocking on wood keep misfortune away.
Transcript:
Some people believe in superstitions to explain the unexplainable. Often that means explaining bad luck.
Old Mr. Smith’s house burned down? He must have forgotten to knock on wood after he said his home was
fireproof. But where did strange beliefs like this come from, and why did people believe them? Here are the
straight facts behind some superstitions.
SUPERSTITION 1: Ravens predict death.
Where It Came From: Ravens are scavengers, so they were often spotted at cemeteries and battlefields-
places associated with dying. People started thinking the birds could predict death.
What’s the Truth? People who spot ravens could be in for some good luck-not death. According to legend,
Vikings sailing the ocean would release captive ravens and follow them toward land. If birds returned, the
16
sailors knew land was still far away. And tame ravens are very friendly. ―They act like puppies, says
Patricia Cole of New York City’s Prospect Park Zoo. ―They’ll sit on your lap, let you scratch their
heads, and play tug-of-war!
SUPERSTITION 2: Walking under a ladder is bad luck.
Where It Came From: In ancient times, people believed that triangles were sacred. Walking through a
triangle could break the triangle’s good powers and let evil things escape. In this case, the triangle is
formed by the ladder and the ground.
What’s the Truth? Triangles aren’t sacred. They are just three connected points that, unlike a point of a
line, aren’t in a row. Math experts such as Professor Albert L. Vitter think of rectangular forms-such as
doorways-as two triangles. (Picture a line from one corner of a doorway to its diagonal corner.) According
to this notion, when you walk through a doorway you are walking through two triangles. Of course, you
know by your own experience that it’s perfectly safe to do this!
SUPERSTITION 3: Throwing salt over your left shoulder wards off evil.
Where It Came From: In the days before refrigeration, salt war very valuable because people used it to
preserve meat, fish, and others foods. People worried evil spirits might try to steal their salt, especially if it
spilled. So they tossed salt over their left shoulders into the eyes of any-stealing demons to stop them.
What’s the Truth? Even if there were really demons, throwing salt in their eyes might slow them down for a
little while, but it wouldn’t stop them. In fact, salt occurs naturally in tears. It and the proteins in tears keep
germs away and help prevent eye infections.
SUPERSTITION 4: Breaking a mirror means trouble
Where It Came From: People used to believe that your reflection was actually your soul. So if you broke a
mirror, you’d break-and therefore lose-your soul.
What’s the Truth? The image in a mirror is a phenomenon of light. ―When you look at any object in a
mirror, what you’re actually seeing is reflected light,‖ says Lou Bloomfield, author of
How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life. When you stand in front of a mirror, reflected light from
your body bounces off the mirror’s surface. That’s why you see your reflection.
SUPERSTITION 5: Knocking on wood keep misfortune away.
Where It Came From: People used to believe that gods lived inside trees. If you knocked on wood when
you wanted a favor, the tree gods would help you.
What’s the Truth? In the past, people may have mistaken tree-dwelling insects for gods, says Linda Butler,
an entomologist at West Virginia University. ―Lots of noisy insects live inside trees, she says.
―For instance, the larva of the pine sawyer beetle makes loud gnawing sound when it chews on wood.
17
Listening 2:
1. Walking under ladders
2. Lucky rabbit’s foot
3. Dead sailors
4. The number of years you’ve got left to live
5. Cuckoo clocks
6. Walk away very slowly
7. Totally untrue and ridiculous
Transcript
Rob: Today we’re talking about superstitions. Superstition is the belief that certain events can bring good
luck or bad luck. For example, a lot of people think that the number 13 is unlucky, or that you can avoid
bad luck if you touch wood.
Alice: Mm, in fact people even say ‘touch wood’ if they’re hoping for something good to
happen. Rob: That’s right. So Alice, are you superstitious?
Alice: Well I am, a bit. I don’t like (1) walking under ladders for example.
Rob: Me too. Now animals, birds and nature feature a lot in British superstitions. We’ve already mentioned
that people touch wood or knock on wood for luck. So could you tell us a few more British superstitions
involving nature Alice?
Alice: Well one that I can think of off the top of my head is a (2) lucky rabbit’s foot. Apparently if you
carry a rabbit’s foot around it will bring you good luck. It’s what we call a lucky charm. So a rabbit’s foot
is a charm that brings good luck to the person carrying it.
Rob: But not to the rabbit! Dr Paul Walton, from the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, spoke to the
BBC about some superstitions surrounding birds in Scotland. Here he is talking about seagulls and the
traditions associated with them.
Partly it must be because Scotland’s such a fantastic place for birds, I think over the years these
superstitions have developed because these are the living things that we share our lives with. For example,
there’s a long tradition in Scotland among sailors and fishermen of seeing the gulls that follow the boats as
actually being the embodiment of (3) dead sailors, and to kill a gull is still in many places considered to be
very back luck.
18
Rob: So it’s bad luck to kill a seagull in Scotland because they’re the embodiment of dead sailors. Let’s
listen to another bird superstition from Scotland. This is Paul Walton again talking about another of his
favourite superstitions. Listen out for the bird noises in this clip and see if you can identify which bird he’s
talking about. What you should do when you hear its call?
One of my favourites is the cuckoo [Cuck-oo cuck-oo] If you hear a cuckoo calling and then you start to
run away from it as quickly as you can, the number of times you hear the cuckoo calling before it fades into
silence is (4) the number of years you’ve got left to live.
Rob: The cuckoo is a bird with a long tail and a very distinctive cry.
Alice: You can find (5) cuckoo clocks in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, with the cuckoo making a
distinctive cry every hour.
Rob: But in Scotland, if you hear the cuckoo calling then you should run away from it as quickly as you
can. And the number of times you hear the cuckoo is the number of years you’ve got left to live.
Alice: Oh dear. So surely you should (6) walk away very slowly – then you’d hear more calls and live
longer? It seems like a very odd superstition to me – it’s a real old wives’ tale. An old wives’ tale is what
we call superstitions that are (7) totally untrue and ridiculous sometimes.
Rob: Thanks Alice.

Alice: See you next
time! Both: Bye!
Listening 3
1. fear
2. unlucky
3. superstitious
4. avoid
5. luck
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
19
WEEK 2: CULTURES
Listening 1:
1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. B
6. C
7. A
Listening 2:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. False
Task 2. Check your understanding: multiple choice
1. A. a whisky container
2. B. a Viking boat
3. B. run as fast as possible while tossing a pancake in a pan
4. B. people from the village
5. C. given a prize of extra lettuce
6. C. bowling
7. A. had all his teeth removed
8. B. 20 years old
Transcript:
Hello. I’m going to talk about British festivals. I’m sure you’ve heard about the Notting Hill Carnival in
London and the Edinburgh Festival, but today we’re going to look at a lot more that you might not know
about. Actually, a lot of these are not exactly festivals, but strange races or competitions. Some of them are
ancient and some are modern.
So, let’s start in January in the north of Scotland with the Burning of the Clavie. This is a whisky barrel
which is set alight then carried through the streets as a bonfire. It’s an ancient tradition which always takes
place on 11th of January, the first day of the year, according to an older form of the calendar. The bonfire
20
brings good luck for the coming year and people used to keep bits of burnt wood as protection against evil
spirits. At the end of January, even further north, in the Shetland Islands, there’s another fire festival, the
Up Helly Aa. This seems like an ancient festival, but has actually only been going for about 130 years –
well, it is fairly old, I suppose. People carry fire-lit torches and a Viking boat through the streets, then set
fire to the boat. There’s lots of dancing; it’s good fun.
Now to the north of England. On Shrove Tuesday in February, otherwise known as Pancake Day, a special
Pancake Bell is rung in Scarborough. Everyone goes down to the road next to the beach where they skip –
yep, they jump over long ropes, up to fifteen people to one rope. And they have pancake races. This is quite
common in the UK – running with a frying pan and tossing a pancake at the same time.
Another kind of race takes place in spring – cheese rolling. In Gloucestershire, in the south-west of
England, round cheeses in round boxes are sent rolling down a hill and people run after them and try and
catch them. The hill is very steep, so people often fall over – if you take part in this you need to be very fit
and wear your oldest jeans. Nowadays this strange custom attracts visitors from all over the world, but the
people from the local village are usually the ones who catch the cheese.
From people-racing, to animals, very tiny animals. World Championship Snail Racing takes place in a
village in Norfolk. The snails have to race from an inner circle to an outer circle and the winner gets a lot of
lettuce. There’s a party and barbecue for the snail owners and observers. This custom began in the 1960s
after a local
man saw something similar in France. In the UK we don’t eat snails, by the way.
More fun, in my opinion, are the onion-eating contest, also in Gloucestershire – a race to finish eating a raw
onion – and the Black Pudding Throwing Championship, in Lancashire. Black puddings are like big
sausages made mainly from dried blood. Contestants bowl three black puddings each at 21 Yorkshire
puddings set on a six-metre platform; the winner is the one who knocks down the most. Another fun contest
takes place in September at the Egremont Crab Fair in Cumbria in the north of England. The World
Gurning Championship is a competition to pull the ugliest face. It sounds ridiculous but this is an ancient
British tradition and the Crab Fair itself dates back to 1267. The man who won the title of best gurner the
most in recent years had all his teeth taken out so he could make terrible faces more easily.
Finally, let’s go back to the south of England. In Brighton there’s a Burning the Clocks Festival to celebrate
the winter solstice on December 21st. This custom started twenty years ago and is very popular. People
make clock lanterns and time-themed figures of paper and wood, then walk through the town to the beach
where the sculptures are set on fire and there’s a massive firework display.
So, that’s just a taste of a few of our old and more modern traditions. Would you like to take part in any of
them?
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
21
WEEK 3: CULTURES (CONT.)
Task 1. Check your understanding: multiple choice
1. A
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. B
6. B
7. A
8. C
9. C
10. A
Task 2. Check your understanding: gap filling
1. animals or livestock or cows or herds

2. protect or look after or help
3. outsiders or foreigners or others

4. conflict
5. killed or eaten
6. hunt or killing
7. seven or 7
8. series
9. fast or quick
10. tail
22
11. conservation
12. sixty-three or 63
Transcript:
For thousands of years the Maasai people in Kenya had no doubts about their relationship with the lions
who shared the land with them. They were enemies. The lions wanted to kill the tribe’s livestock and the
Maasai had to protect the animals. It was even part of the coming-of-age ritual of young warriors to kill a
lion.
But now things have changed and the Maasai are part of a new East African scheme to protect lions, called
the Lion Guardians. The aim is for local people to be trained to manage and protect the lions without
involvement from outsiders after the period of initial training. The Lion Guardians are taught basic literacy,
how to manage data, how to deal with conflict between humans and lions, GPS and telemetry tracking of
radio-collared lions. Some of them also learn how to speak in public and how to blog.
The Lion Guardians monitor the lions and other carnivores and inform cattle herders when to avoid the
areas where there are lions. They also help improve the livestock enclosures and educate people about
wildlife. Helping find lost livestock is another important job. In the past these would often have been killed
by carnivores.
If anyone is about to carry out a lion hunt, the Lion Guardians try and persuade them not to. Since many of
the Guardians have killed lions in the past and are very experienced, they are highly respected in the
community and are listened to by their age-mates, or peers, and often by their elders. They explain the
importance of the lions to culture and tourism and how they can now be arrested for killing protected
animals.
One such Lion Guardian is Olubi Lairumbe. He has killed seven lions in his lifetime. The last one was a
lioness who was pregnant with five cubs. He regretted killing her very much, had a massive change of heart
and volunteered to become a Lion Guardian. Olubi’s father used to hate lions and encouraged his sons to
hunt them, but since Olubi became a Guardian, he has been advising them not to kill carnivores. Olubi was
recently interviewed by Sir David Attenborough and appeared on the Africa documentary series.
Another Guardian, Mingati Makarot, is very good at tracking lions using his traditional skills and has a
great knowledge of the area that acts as a refuge to many wildlife species. Mingati is a past lion killer but
has completely converted to being one of its ardent protectors. His name, Mingati, is a ‗lion name’ given to
him meaning one who is fast and doesn’t lag behind.
In the past, a moran (a Maasai warrior) received a lion name after spearing a lion. In Maasai culture the
name represents the characteristics of both the warrior and the lion he has killed. A warrior with a lion
name feels that he has achieved something great. When the successful warrior brings the lion’s mane and
tail back to his manyatta (his home in the community) to be put on display, he is treated as a hero. Other
23
young men who don’t yet have their lion names are called by the general name of ‗moran’. They long to
have recognition and dream about the day that it will be their turn to bring home the lion trophy.
Now, this naming tradition is changing. The Lion Guardians experimented by giving lion names to boys
who had not killed lions and it worked. Other young people called them by the lion names, then the older
people did so too. There were still some boys who wanted to do something to prove their bravery, and they
were assigned conservation tasks to do. Now young men can earn respect by protecting lions, rather than
killing them.
Another change is that the lions are now given Maasai names and each has a card explaining who the lion
is related to and which lions they keep company with. Personalising the lions helps them to be seen as
individuals by the community.
Since the programme began in 2007, no lions have been killed in the area patrolled by Lion Guardians.
Compare that to a similar neighbouring area without Guardians, where 63 have been killed, and you can
see just how successful the scheme is. The Maasai have managed to successfully adapt their culture to
changing times without giving up their identity.
AUGUST
UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN
WEEK 4: THE EXPERIMENT
Task 1
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. c
6. a
Task 2
1. with a hammer / easily
2. upside down
3. nine drops / 9 drops
4. the 2020s
5. five minutes / 5 minutes
6. quickly / fast / so quickly / so fast / very quickly / very fast
24
Transcript:
In today’s lecture we’re going to be talking about experiments, and I thought it might be interesting for you
all to learn about the world’s oldest continuously running laboratory experiment that is still going today. In
fact, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the longest-running experiment. This experiment began
in 1927 and has been going ever since.
It’s called the ‘pitch drop’ experiment and it was created by Professor Thomas Parnell at the University of
Queensland, Australia. Parnell was the university’s first physics professor, and he wanted to show in this
experiment that everyday materials, such as pitch, can have quite surprising properties.
You see, when pitch is at room temperature, it feels solid. You can easily break it with a hammer. However,
it isn’t in fact solid. At room temperature, pitch is many billions of times more viscous than water, but it’s
actually fluid.
In 1927, Professor Parnell took a sample of pitch. He heated it and poured it into a glass funnel. He allowed
the pitch to cool and settle – for three years. He then turned the funnel upside down and cut the top off it.
Since then, the pitch has slowly dropped out of the funnel. How slowly? Well, the first drop took eight
years to fall. It took another forty years for another five drops to fall. Today it’s been almost 90 years since
the experiment started. Only nine drops have fallen from the funnel. The last drop fell in April 2014 and the
next one is expected to fall in the 2020s.
The experiment has a tragic story associated with it. Professor Parnell died without seeing a pitch drop. His
replacement, Professor John Mainstone, became responsible for the pitch drop experiment from 1961. He
held the job for 52 years, and missed seeing the drop fall three times – by a day in 1977, by just five
minutes in 1988 and finally in 2000, when the webcam that was recording the experiment suffered a power
outage for 20 minutes, during which time the pitch dropped.
The pitch drop experiment is something we can all participate in now. There’s a live web stream that
allows anyone to watch the glass funnel and wait for the fateful moment. A similar experiment to the
Queensland pitch drop was set up in Dublin, and the video of the moment the pitch actually dropped went
viral on the internet. It’s interesting to see how a very slow event can spread news so quickly.
SEPTEMBER
WEEK 5
25
Listening 1:
1. passed down
2. Physical characteristics
3. chromosomes
4. 23
5. embryo
6. features
7. shuffled
8. identical twins
Transcript:
(Source: Source: EDGE A, Fluency model - Phrasing, CD 8 Track 4)
Your genes come from your parents, theirs come from their parents, and so on all the way back to the first
living thing that ever existed. Genes are passed down through families, and that’s why you probably look a
bit like your parents. Physical characteristics, like long eyelashes, red hair, freckles, or blue eyes, run in
families because they are controlled by genes.
Half your genes come from your mother and half come from your father. They were passed on to you in
chromosomes carried by sperm and egg cells. Sperm and egg cells have only 23 chromosomes each half the
usual amount. When they meet and form an embryo, they create a new person with a full set of 46
chromosomes.
You actually have two sets of genes: one set from your mother and another from your father. These two
genomes give you a mixture of your mother’s and father’s features perhaps you have your mother’s hair
and your father’s eyes, for instance.
Every child in a family is different because the parents’ genes are shuffled and then divided in two before
making each sperm and egg cell. So each child gets a unique set of genes (except for identical twins).
Task 2
1. C 3. B 5. A
2. B 4. B 6. B
Transcript:
Presenter: Today we’re looking at the darker side of literature with two books about not-so-happy families.
And we’ve got writer Helen Slade and book critic Anna Kimura to talk us through them. First up, we’re
looking at Her Mother’s Daughter by Alice Fitzgerald, a novel written from two points of view, one of a child
and the other of her very troubled mother. Helen, I have to be honest. I found this one hard to read. It’s very
well written but, well, how did you find it?
Helen: I know what you mean, but I literally couldn’t put it down and stayed up till three in the morning to
finish it. There’s something about immersing yourself in a family this flawed, this damaged, that’s
26
compelling. You’d never want to be in that family yourself, but that’s what reading is about, isn’t it?
Wearing someone else’s shoes for a while without ever having to live their reality.
Presenter: You surprise me! The families in your own books are a million miles away from this one.
Helen: Yeah, my readers can always be sure they’re going to get a happy ending. Which you definitely ... I
don’t want to give too much away here, but you definitely don’t feel like a happy ending is coming for
these characters.
Presenter: OK, so don’t mention the ending, but can you just describe for listeners what the book is about?
Helen: So, it’s about a family with secrets. The mother has hidden her troubled childhood from her husband
and her two children but, of course, it’s shaped her entire personality and how she behaves as a mother and
as a wife. Which is especially obvious when we’re reading the sections told in the child’s voice, even
though the little girl herself doesn’t understand the meaning of everything she’s seeing.
Presenter: For me, what was really so shocking was less what happened to the mother when she was a child
but how the mother treated her own children. Why is that, do you think?
Helen: I think we’re all programmed to see mothers as something sacred and pure. As a child she was
mistreated by her father, and in some ways we’re not that shocked by that, which is a sad thing in itself, and
her own mother didn’t help her. As a reader we’re less affected by that, I think, because that part of the
story is revealed to us in the mother’s voice, the adult voice. But the reason the way she treats her own
child is so much more shocking is that the child is telling us about it and we sympathise with her. It’s very
clever how the author plays on our natural instincts to protect a child.
Presenter: Though we do feel sorry for the mother too. Or, at least, I did.
Helen: It’s hard not to. She’s trapped in her own unhappiness.
Presenter: And we’re trapped right there with her as the reader. It made me wonder, Anna, why is it that
miserable books like this one sell so well?
Anna: Because all of us have families. I suppose the books play out things we all see in much smaller ways
in our own family lives.
Presenter: The other hard-hitting book this week is We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. Now
there’s a family who have a problem!
Anna: They definitely do. Very few people will ever have a killer as a teenage son like the narrator in the
book, but we can all identify with the challenges and often terrifying reality of raising teenagers!
Presenter: So can you give us the lowdown on Kevin, then, Anna?
Anna: This book is written from the point of view of the mother in letters she’s writing to her husband,
Kevin’s father. Again, we shouldn’t say too much about the ending, but the way the author uses the letters
is very clever.
Presenter: I have to admit, I really enjoyed this book. It’s a difficult topic, but it was much easier to read
than Her Mother’s Daughter.
27
Anna: As Helen said before, it’s about the voice of the narrator. There’s no child’s voice and, in this story,
the victims in many ways are the adults, though, of course, Kevin’s sister is a victim of her brother’s evil.
Helen: Yes, and the idea of where ‘evil’ comes from is a theme that comes out in both books. If you choose
to call it ‘evil’ that is. I prefer to describe it as a complete lack of empathy. The mother in Her Mother’s
Daughter had a terrible childhood, but Kevin’s from a happy home and good parents.
Presenter: Is he though? The mother often admits she found motherhood hard. Aren’t we supposed to think
she might have caused Kevin to turn out the way he does? Just like in Her Mother’s Daughter.
Anna: Both books certainly look at how the mistakes of the parents affect children. And this is another
reason we relate to these books. Parents are always worrying if they’re doing a good job.
SEPTEMBER
WEEK 6
Listening 1:
Task 1
1. FALSE
2. NOT STATED
3. FALSE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. NOT STATED
8. FALSE
Transcript:
Maggie: Hi, I’m Maggie Mr. Jarvis: I’m sorry?

Maggie: Maggie Brown. I’m the mother of Billy. I was told you would be here. You’re his English teacher,
28
aren’t you?
Mr. Jarvis: Oh, of course. Billy’s mother. Hi, nice to meet you. Yes, I wanted to speak to you about Billy’s
work.
Maggie: I hope there isn’t a problem.
Mr. Jarvis: Well, not exactly. I think Billy has made some good improvements this year compared to last
year.
Maggie: Well, of course. Last year, we were new to the area. You know, we moved here from Los Angeles
and it wasn’t a very settled time for Billy, well all the family really. So Billy probably didn’t do his best
work last year. But I thought he had improved enormously this year. That’s the case, isn’t it?
Mr. Jarvis: As I was saying, I think Billy most certainly HAS improved a lot since last year. I just think
there are one or two other things he needs to work on so I wanted to have a chat with you this evening.
Maggie: Well, I’m sure he’s been doing his very best. You know, he’s only 12 and it’s not easy when...
Mr. Jarvis: ...yes, yes, certainly Mrs. Brown. Part of what I wanted to say to you tonight is that Billy’s work
has been much better. We put a story that he wrote back in March in the school newspaper. Did you see it?
Maggie: I can’t believe it! I never had any idea. He’s such a modest boy. He would never show me anything
like that.
Mr. Jarvis: Oh, really? I’m surprised you never got to see it. It really was a well crafted piece of writing.
Very mature article considering the age of Billy.
Maggie: Well, I don’t know what to say...but, you said he was having problems?
Mr. Jarvis: He is still having enormous difficulties with his spelling and it concerns me.
Maggie: Yes, Billy has always been pretty weak with his spelling. We have tried at home to help him. His
sister, Kathy, often spends time with him, testing him on words that he often gets wrong. I’m sure that’s
helpful, isn’t it?
Mr. Jarvis: Oh yes, without a doubt. And he’s enjoying doing this extra spelling work at home, isn’t he?
Maggie: Yes, he knows it’s important to be able to spell better. But he’s always had trouble getting his
words right you know, when he’s writing. You don’t think there’s anything more serious wrong with him,
do you?
Mr. Jarvis: I think it’s possible he may have a mild form of dyslexia. You’ve heard of dyslexia, haven’t
you? Maggie: Yes, of course I have. But you’re not seriously suggesting Billy has dyslexia, are you?
Mr. Jarvis: Dyslexia comes in many shapes and sizes of different severity. I would like to send him to see
a specialist and I wanted to speak to you about it first. This wouldn’t be a problem for you, would it?
Maggie: No, of course not. I’ll do anything I can to help. You’ve got me really worried now
though...
29
Mr. Jarvis: Oh Mrs. Brown, it’s nothing to worry about. My own son had a mild form of dyslexia when he
was Billy’s age and he’s now a published author! Telephone the school office tomorrow morning and we
can arrange an appointment for early next week.
Maggie: Ok, thank you Mr. Jarvis. I’ll telephone the office at 9 o’clock
sharp. Mr. Jarvis: That’ll be fine. Now, have a good evening.
Listening 2:
1. A
2. A
3. B
4. B
5. C
Transcript:
My name’s Randall Davis, and I’m originally from the state of Indiana in the United States. When I was 19
years old, I moved to Venezuela in South America, and later returned to the United States, where I attended
Brigham Young University in the 1980s. I majored in Spanish education and TESOL, or teaching English
as a second language. After graduating from college, my wife and I moved to Japan where we lived for
eight years. Now, I work back in the States in Utah.
However, my greatest interests are my family. Years ago, I wanted to make something of myself in my
profession . . . you know . . . get ahead in life. However, I realized that the most important things in life
lived within the walls of my own home, and today, I try to put them first. My kids wouldn’t remember me
for the work I did outside of the home; they would only recall the moments we spent together.
Therefore, I enjoy spending time with my family. I have four children, and we go hiking and camping
together, usually in Utah. On our hikes, we often talk about life, and I tell stories or share personal
experiences. When I do this, I can focus on the kids without the distractions of video games or the Internet.
Telling stories sounds easy, but when you have to think of a new story on a hot, 12-kilometer hike through
the desert, you have to come up with ideas off the top of your head.
Now, this doesn’t mean we don’t have problems; all families face challenges in their lives, and our family
is no exception. However, we try to talk openly about our problems, and we try to solve our problems
together. Building a strong family takes time, but it is worth the effort.
Listening 3:
1. A
30
2. C
3. C
4. A
5. A
Transcript:
Tonya: Hey, Phil. Uh. Why the gloomy face?

Phil: Ah, Sharon and I are calling it quits. We’re breaking up. Divorce time. [What?] I need to find a good
divorce lawyer.
Tonya: What? Phil You’ve only been married two months. What’s going on?
Phil: You just don’t understand. There are just some differences we haven’t been able to work out.
Tonya: Well, you’ve only been married two months. Like what? Things can’t be THAT bad.
Phil: Oh, yeah. Yeah, they are, sis. I thought married life was going to be filled with bliss, but things are
really terrible right now.
Tonya: Like what? You haven’t given me a reason yet for breaking up.
Phil: Well, okay, okay. First of all, she drinks 2% milk and won’t switch of non-fat milk. [So what? I do
too.] She’s always telling me to put the toilet seat . . .
Tonya: Buy two things of milk. Big deal.
Phil: She’s always telling me to put the toilet seat down in the bathroom. [Duh . . .] And, and, and, she
wears this smelly facial cream. Oh, it’s so smelly. And, and she . . .
Tonya: Well, that IS annoying, but so what?
Phil: And, she sometimes falls asleep with the light on. Oh yeah. And get this: she studies English grammar
in her free time. [Serious?] Really romantic, right?
Tonya: You know what? So what? It’s not a big deal. That’s it? Don’t you think those are pretty petty
reasons for wanting to get a divorce?
Phil: Hey, the movie stars do it all the time. [What?] And, AND AND . . .
Tonya: You wanna (want to) be like them?
Phil: And get this. She gets upset when I call my old girlfriend two or three times a week. I mean . . .
Tonya: WHAT? YOU’RE CALLING YOUR OLD GIRLFRIEND?
Phil: Just to say hello. That’s all.
Tonya: You shouldn’t be calling her! No wonder she’s upset.
Phil: And I now only have one picture of my (old) girlfriend in my wallet. I got rid of the other three last
week.
31
Tonya: You’re still carrying pictures of your old girlfriend?

Phil: You just don’t understand.
Tonya: What is wrong with you? Phil, be quiet and listen, Phil. What is wrong with you? You have a really
screwy way of thinking about this. [You don’t understand.] Listen, listen, listen. First of all, those character
flaws, as you see them, they are just habits, personal habits that aren’t bad at all, but YOU’RE a big part of
the problem. [WHAT?] Calling your old girlfriend? WHAT ARE YOU THINKING? [You don’t
understand.]
Keeping pictures of your girlfriend? Only having one in your wallet and feeling bad? What is wrong with
you, Phil?
Phil: What? I’m just . . .
Tonya: No, listen. Stop thinking of yourself. You’re so self-centered. I am ashamed that you are my
brother.[I still . . .] What’s wrong with you?
Phil: Still, I just need a good divorce lawyer.
Tonya: A divorce lawyer is the last thing you need; maybe she needs one, but you don’t.
Phil: Man. Wha . . .?
Tonya: Listen, listen. You just need to grow up. [But. . . ] Save your energy and frustration for real
problems. Listen, people get really sick, sometimes people die. When you guys have kids, you’re going to
have some teenagers coming down the road, and that’s pretty scary. You’re going to have some financial
problems. You haven’t seen anything yet. I think you guys really need to get some marriage counseling;
you’ve got to work on these problems, Phil.
Phil: Ah. WOMEN!
SEPTEMBER
WEEK 7
Listening 1:
Task 1
1. C
2. A
3. B
32
4. A
5. B
Task 2
1. FALSE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE
6. FALSE
7. TRUE
Transcript:
Interviewer: Hello, everyone, and welcome to our show, Families in Transition. We’d also like to welcome
our guest today, Dr. Philip Monroe, director of the Family Relations Center here in our city. He is also the
author of the book, Rearing Children for Success from the Front Lines.
Philip: Thank you. It is a pleasure to be here on your program today.
Interviewer: So, first of all, what inspired you to write your book and what is it all about?
Philip: Well, it is often said that becoming a parent is one job you can land without experience or
credentials, and that is really true. I guess you could say that through trial and error . . . and a number of
mistakes . . . I realized that I personally needed to figure out how to become a better parent, too. I mean, for
myself. And before I got married, I had read numerous books on child rearing and child psychology to try
to prepare myself for this transitional phase in my own life, but every family and situation is so unique, and
the challenges of raising children are often so complex that not one guidebook can fully prepare you for
what awaits you on the front lines.
Interviewer: Yeah, that’s for sure. Um, Doctor. How many children do you have?
Philip: We have five. [Really? That’s . . . that’s quite a lot.] Well, yeah, and they’re all unique, and there’s
never a dull moment around our house.
Interviewer: I bet there’s not. That sounds like many houses, including my own. [Exactly.] And your book.
What do you mean by successful children?
Philip: Well, I should first point out that I’m not thinking in terms of the most standard definition, one that
associates success with financial or educational gains.
Interviewer: Well, what do you mean by success then?
Philip: Well, I’m referring to success in understanding and managing children’s own emotional, moral, and
even spiritual welfare. For example, people, umm . . . people get angry and depressed, and that’s a part of
life, and just telling kids not to be upset or frustrated denies the naturalness of these feelings, and it doesn’t
teach children how to cope with their feelings.
Interviewer: So, you’re saying that it’s okay to get angry?
33
Philip: We all do, I mean, are there times when you get angry?
Interviewer: Well, yeah. Of course.
Philip: Well, that’s, I guess, what I’m trying to say . . . is that we all get angry, but learning how to express
it appropriately is the key. Not to digress here, but if people are expecting a simple, textbook solution to
raising and understanding their children, then they don’t understand or underestimate the realities of rearing
children.
Interviewer: I think I see your point. So, for all of us out there struggling to raise our children, what can we,
as parents, do to better understand and relate to our children?
Philip: When you first get married and promise to love and cherish your spouse, few of us are
contemplating, at that moment, the potential challenges we will face five, ten, or twenty years down the
road. You don’t look over at your spouse, or future spouse, and say, "Well, honey. There’s a good chance
we will get divorced in a few years." I don’t think anyone was thinking that. "Uh. Isn’t that any interesting
fact?" Of course, this idea is the furthest from our minds, and it might be a blessing that we don’t have
crystal ball to look into the future.
Interviewer: I agree with you there. I think it’s best not to know what’s coming
up. Philip: I think in many cases.
Interviewer: I know in my own life. I don’t know if I would dare to do the things that we’ve needed to do if
I had known what was coming down the road.
Philip: Exactly. And I think that although we hear stories about the difficulties in raising children, that
seems light years away, and we would rather not contemplate that on, well, I think on our wedding days.
However, we must face the realities of life sooner or later, and having some skills in your, let’s say, your
emotional toolbox might provide us with the emotional, physical, and spiritual strength later on when we
really need to drawn on it.
Interviewer: Like when, for example?
Philip: First of all, one should understand that there are many factors that influence how children grow up
and develop including the environment around them, genetics, peers, school teachers, and education within
the home.
Interviewer: Yeah, I can see that all of that really would affect kids.
Philip: Exactly. However, as parents, we have more control over some of these than others.
Interviewer: Can I just interject for a moment. [Sure.] I think we also have more control than we realize
over some of these factors.
Philip: Right, it’s just that I think there are variety of things---peers are one---but also, within ourselves, we
have the the ability to influence, I think, children. However, I think parents often beat themselves up
emotionally thinking that must bear all the blame for any of their children’s failings. In other words, while
parents perhaps have the most impact on our children’s decisions and attitudes, we can’t ignore the fact that
34
children . . . uh, particularly teenagers . . . tend to follow the popular crowd, and their actions often mirror
this.
Interviewer: So, what else?
Philip: Well, parents need to establish clear boundaries and expectations for your children, and be
consistent on how you implement them. I mean, children often see rules as a way to limit their freedom
when in fact we’re just trying to protect them from often negative consequences of their actions. But when
children feel that they’re being treated fairly, and we validate their feelings, they’ll respond at least
we
hope they will respond better to our requests, and in return, they can earn greater latitude in what they
are allowed to do, and they no longer see rules and barriers as things that stop them.
Interviewer: That makes a lot of sense.
Philip: And perhaps, finally, establish good lines of communication with your spouse and children. Being
open to their ideas and lavishing them with specific praise often will build reserves in their emotional bank
accounts. And doing this will foster perhaps positive relationships with them. And also telling them you
know how they feel---and this is a common mistake that I often make--- "I know how you feel" . . .
Interviewer: Yeah, I can remember my mom saying that.
Philip: Right, and then we often say that well because we have a billion years of experience will often just
sound condescending to them and perhaps push them away, even if teenagers are some of the hardest
creatures on the planet to understand.
Interviewer: Yeah, I think mine is for sure. Okay, any closing remarks on this topic before we have to go?
You make it sound so easy.
Philip: Well, there . . . I think there were a number of years I thought about this, but only recently I’ve
decided to pen some of these ideas because there’s never a point we, quote "arrive" close quote, at being
the ideal parent. I mean it involves a lot of trial and error, missteps, and even pain along the way. And more
often than not, valleys of heartache but that accompany peaks of joy. All I can say is that we can never give
up on our children, even when they yell and scream in our faces. It’s hard, but we just can’t take it
personally. And if there’s one last thing I could say would be to have hope that things will work out.
Interviewer: Thank you so much. That sounds like a really important message and important book. Thank
you for joining our show today.
Philip: Thank YOU. My pleasure.
Listening 2:
1. False
2. True
35
3. False
4. True
5. True
6. False
7. False
8. False
9. False
10. True
Transcript: A (Girl):
She lives next door and she’s always been really important in my life. When we were little and my mum
was working she used to look after us. She’d tell us stories about her childhood. It was like listening to
fairy stories, life was so different when she was a child. In her kitchen she used to keep a special dish with
sweets for us, and she was always baking cakes and pies. Now she doesn’t bake so much. She’s started
eating more healthily in her old age, salads and vegetables and things. It’s funny how she’s changed. She
also goes to this special gym class for old people, it’s amazing. I don’t see her so often now, but she’s
always the same person however much her lifestyle changes.
B (Boy):
He’s four years older than me and that seemed like a huge amount when we were children. When we were
at the same school we’d never talk to each other during school hours. But now we’re older it’s a lot better,
although I’ll always be the little one, and that’s annoying sometimes. He’s taken me to rock concerts that I
wouldn’t have gone to otherwise and when he was at uni I went to stay with him sometimes. That was
really cool. It was great to see what real student life was like when I was still at school. Now that he’s
working he’s really busy, but we still hang out sometimes. We go to football matches together because we
both support our home team. It’s always good to see him.
C (Girl):
We’ve known each other since we were five and we’ve always got on really well. Well, apart from that
time when we fell out because we both liked the same boy. But he went off with Heather Jenkins, so we
made friends again quite quickly! We both like the same kind of music and going dancing at the weekend,
and when we were younger we went out on our bikes together. At school we’re good at different things.
I’m good at languages and Laura’s good at maths. That’s good though – it means that we can help each
other with our homework. Next year I’m probably going to study in London and she’s going to Manchester,
36
but I’m sure our relationship won’t change.

D (Boy):
His family moved in just a few houses down from us when I was about ten, and I still remember how
excited I felt when I found out there was another boy on the street. I’d been the only boy, you see. The
others were all girls. We were good friends from the beginning because we were into the same things:
computers and football, mostly. But we had quite a few of the same hobbies for a while. I remember
making lots of models of aeroplanes one year. Another year we took up fishing. We had all the equipment
and everything and we’d spend ages down by the river. I never go fishing now. His family moved away a
couple of years ago. We’re still friends on Facebook but we don’t really have much contact.
E (Girl):
I can remember all the details of when we met. I was wearing a red dress and I’d just had my hair cut. I can
even remember what music was playing the first time I saw him. I knew he was special from the beginning,
and I was right. We’ve been together ever since. Well, it’s only been eighteen months, and some people say
that isn’t very long, but it seems like ages to me. We’ve got such similar personalities and so much in
common. I’m sure we’ll stay together forever.
SEPTEMBER
WEEK 8
Listening 1:
1. B
2. A
3. A
4. B
5. C
Transcript:
is a concern in almost every place you go around the world, but we often don’t think much about it unless it
touches our lives in a personal way. Unfortunately, as human beings, we often come up with overly-
simplistic reasons why people live on the streets or in homeless shelters, and this perception often limits
our abilities to have real compassion for others. Some reasons can include loss of employment, a traumatic
37
event such as a natural disaster that damages or destroys a family’s home and substance abuse, and the list
goes on and on.
But, the facts on homelessness are stark, something I want to discuss as it applies to the United States
where I live.
So first of all, number one:
In just the United States alone, over half a million people are homeless, with about a third of those being
children.
Number two, about one if five people suffer from a mental health issue.
Number three, about half of women who are homeless have been the victims of domestic abuse.
And number four, around a quarter of the homeless are employed, but, unfortunately, the cost of living for
many people is just beyond their means and current income.
Now, I understand that people may feel uncomfortable in helping the homeless, but there are a number of
things that people can do to alleviate the pain and suffering of those who are in desperate need of help.
For me, I just assume that people need help, and I give it to them. I try not to assume that a person’s plight
has been self-inflicted every time. One time, my wife and I were about to enter a restaurant when a
homeless man approached us for money. Trying to set aside any prejudice or preconceived feeling about
his intentions, my wife simply invited him to join us for dinner. As it turned out, it was a nice evening. The
man shared with us his hopes and dreams, and when our meal was over, we expressed well wishes to him
and went home, not really knowing if he had a home to return to as well.
To conclude, my intention in telling this story isn’t to show how great we were for helping the man. Far
from it. So many other people serve humbly and anonymously in far greater ways that we do, and I realize
that there have been times that I haven’t been compassionate as I could have been. Rather, I just want to
say
that people like you and me can make a small difference in the small acts of generosity we do each day that
can make a difference.
Listening 2:
1. A
2. C
3. A
4. B
5. B
Transcript:
38
Hi. I’m Bob, and welcome to the show, My Home Your Home.
Imagine that it’s Monday afternoon, and you decide to step out and buy a few things for dinner before the
kids get home from school. You look at your watch. It’s 1:30 PM, and you need to be back in 20 minutes.
When you get back, you notice nothing out of the ordinary, and everything is just as you left it. Then, as
you are looking through your dresser drawer, you notice that the contents are in disarray. You realize
money you had hidden carefully at the bottom is gone. Nothing else in the house has been taken. And the
only evidence of entry is a dirty footprint through an unlocked window .
Sound untrue? Not to our family because it happened to us.
There are several basic steps you can take to avoid being victimized in your own home. First of all, make
sure that all of your exterior doors and windows have secure locks. If you’ve recently moved into a new
home, you would be wise to rekey all of the doors because you never know who might be walking around
with a copy of one. Never leave a copy of the key outside under a doormat, on a window sill, above a door,
or in the mailbox. Burglars are very aware of your temptation to do so, and they will find an easy way in
through your carelessness.
Second, discourage burglars from even considering your home by keeping your yard well groomed. Trim
back shrubbery and trees around entryways and windows where burglars can conceal themselves. Install
bright porch lights both in front and in back of your house and consider investing in a motion detector as
well. Also, use a light timer to automatically turn on your interior or exterior lights at times when you are
away. Next, set up a neighborhood watch group to patrol the area. Keep neighbors informed when you
might be away, and have them collect your mail and newspapers if needed.
Finally, prepare your family in the event someone breaks into your house in order to avoid serious
confrontations. If you hear strange sounds in the house, call the police rather than seeking out the intruder.
Having a gun to protect you at home is often not the best deterrent because it can be used against you.
Think smart and prepare. Doing these basics will go a long way to securing your home, property, and peace
of mind.
Listening 3:
1. A
2. B
3. B
4. A
5. A
Transcript:
Man: Hey. Megan. Come on in. Take a seat . . . uh, somewhere.

Woman: Whoa. This place is a disaster and the smell.
39
Man: It’s........Ah. [ Sniff, sniff ]. Ah, it’s not so bad.

Woman: Yes, it is. It’s terrible.
Man: Ah. Come on.
Woman: No, look. There are pizza boxes all over the floor.
Man: Do you need a piece?
Woman: Wait! I think that (pizza) company’s been closed . . . like two months ago.......for health reasons.
Stains on the carpet from who knows what. Say good-bye to your deposit. I’m.......I’m not even going into
the bathroom. And, what is that
smell? Man: What smell? Wait
.............................................what! Ah!
Woman: Uh . . . What is in your garbage? This milk is curdled. How long has it been in there? Are you
trying to develop intelligent life? I mean it looks like your trying to build a civilization in there?
Man: It’s......it’s not so bad.
Woman: You keep saying that. Uh, do you need to hire a housecleaning service?
Man: A what?
Woman: Yes. A cleaning service. [ Cleaning service? ] I You know my friend. She has.......She has her own
company. They’ll come to your apartment . . . clean everything from top to bottom. Clean your carpet . . .
and it certainly needs it. Uh, dust your furniture, sweep, mop, everything. Clean your blinds . . . not that
you’d notice, closets, and your appliances.
Man: That . . . that . . . that sounds expensive. I . . . I......I don’t think I can afford that.
Woman: They . . . they usually send out teams of two people, but for you, they’re going to need a whole
HazMat (hazardous materials) crew.
Man: Well, how much?
Woman: They usually charge $30 an hour.
Man: THIRTY DOLLARS!?!? Whoa!!!! That’s expensive.
Woman: But it’s going to be more for you, I’m sure.
Man: Whoa!!! That’s expensive.
Woman: Look. You always tell me you don’t have friends........I can see why. Give them a try. Look. I can
get you a discount. Okay, you can’t keep living like this.
Man: Oh, well, uh, Sis. Uh, do you have time? Maybe, you could . . .
Woman: No, no! In fact, I remember I have to be somewhere.
40
Man: Oh, okay, well. What’s their number? Woman: I’ll . . . I’ll text it to you later. Good-bye. Man: All right.
Bye.
41

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The Asian International School Intermediate

C. Because the landlords hadn’t consented to them doing so.

B. run as fast as possible while tossing a pancake in a pan

PART III. PRACTICE

C. Young men are given special names without killing lions.

B. scientists set up a live stream of the experiment.

C. They’re both about how parents worry about their children.

6. Billy's sister Kathy has similar problems.

4. Family rules can _________.

Which other people have been important in your life?

A. doesn't have friends

SUPERSTITION 1: Ravens predict death.

SUPERSTITION 2: Walking under a ladder is bad luck.

SUPERSTITION 5: Knocking on wood keep misfortune away.

Rob: Thanks Alice.

UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN

Task 1. Check your understanding: true or false

UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN

WEEK 3: CULTURES (CONT.)

Task 1. Check your understanding: multiple choice

1. animals or livestock or cows or herds

3. outsiders or foreigners or others

UNIT 1: THINK AGAIN

WEEK 4: THE EXPERIMENT

Maggie: Hi, I’m Maggie Mr. Jarvis: I’m sorry?

Tonya: Hey, Phil. Uh. Why the gloomy face?

Tonya: You’re still carrying pictures of your old girlfriend?

Task 1. Check your understanding: true or false

but I’m sure our relationship won’t change.

Man: Hey. Megan. Come on in. Take a seat . . . uh, somewhere.

Man: It’s........Ah. [ Sniff, sniff ]. Ah, it’s not so bad.

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